Eye turns (strabismus) in children can have multiple repercussions. “There are a number of functional problems that kids can have with strabismus (eye turns). If one eye turns regularly, the vision may not develop properly in that eye; if a turn is always present, depth perception will not develop. Another important, but often overlooked, negative effect from strabismus has to do with the social impacts that an eye turn has on children” stated Oren L. Weisberg, M.D., Pediatric Ophthalmologist at D’Ambrosio Eye Care.

Dr. Weisberg continued, “A recent article reinforces our understanding of this. In the study, pictures of children were digitally altered to give them an exotropia (an eye turn outward). A group of children aged 8-12 years then looked at the pictures and were asked to rate their willingness to sit next to such kids compared to pictures of kids without eye turns. Kids of all age groups studied were less willing to sit next to a child with exotropia. Other studies have also shown that strabismus can negatively affect kids in social situations”.

There are treatments available for patients with strabismus. This can include eyeglasses, patching, eye drops and sometimes surgery. If any turns are noted a complete eye exam by a provider who has experience working with children is important. During that visit all options for treatment can be reviewed.

If you feel your child has an eye turn, please call 800-325-3937 to schedule an appointment. You may also request an appointment at facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare.

There is nothing wrong with this. I think all women need to cocoon themselves with their new babies for bonding. When you are just lounging around doing skin to skin, you arent getting dirty. As long as you are brushing your teeth and washing your face you are pretty much golden. 

One thing I didnt want to do after I had kids was stop getting ready altogether. Weve all seen it time and time again. New moms stop dressing up, stop putting on make-up, stop curling their hair. Obviously, Im not going to judge you if you decide to put your efforts elsewhere. That is your prerogative and there is nothing wrong with choosing to spend your "free" time watching a guilty pleasure show or hitting the gym rather than puttin on your face, especially when you just wash it all off at the end of the night. 

Personally, I would feel better when I was more put together. Even now, if I wake up late or just dont feel good and I skip make up for the day, I feel blah all day long. When I take the time just to put a little effort into my face I feel fresher and ready to tackle life. I dont know why, but I do!

Im writing this for the woman that wants a low maintenance, easy routine where they dont have a vanity full of thousands of products, they can get ready fast and feel good (and possibly a little bit more human) like I am/was. I slid was in there because I work outside of the home, so I have to put more effort into my appearance and it helps me feel all business-y at work (I hate getting caught in a surprise meeting when I have no make-up on!) but even still, I try to pick and choose what my make-up necessities are and balance my efforts so that I dont spend a ton time on my face every morning. Although honestly, I am spending more time than ever before because I am into make-up so its actually fun to do.

When I first had Shepherd, I would use a light foundation or tinted moisturizer, concealer under the eyes and on any blemishes, some blush for some glow, and mascara. If I was feeling really ambitious, I would put a little light eye shadow in the corner of my eyes to look more awake. Top with a baby-friendly chapstick (cause of all those kisses, of course!) and Id be set.

That was the bare essentials. It would always make me feel a thousand times better and I liked the idea of Bryan coming home to a fresh faced lady, instead of a torn up one. :)

I know many of you may not be into make-up. Maybe you just have your few staples and they are from the drugstore and they get you by. I happen to love drugstore make-up and there are tons of good products that I use from there. However, if I was going to tell you to invest in one product that would last a long time, be ridiculously versatile, is high quality and would suit anyone? It would be the Lorac Pro palette.

I mentioned this in the haul a while ago, and I have seriously put it to the test. This palette is $42. It contains eight matte shades and eight shimmer shades, ranging in neutrals with a few pops of color thrown in for good measure.




I tried my hardest to get good pictures with the actual colors but yall know that Im not a super awesome photographer. The light colors got a little blown out. Here is the picture from the Lorac Cosmetics website:


You can see from the pictures above that Ive used pretty much every color in the palette. You can tell from the marks in the shadows where my brush has dipped in. What is great about this palette is that you can easily choose to just put one color over the entire lid for a little pick me up and stop there. Or, you can put a matte shade in your crease just to define your eyes and call it good. You can mix shimmer and matte colors. If you are going out for a date night you can put together an easy smokey eye. This palette complements any eye color and there are hundreds of variations of looks, as simple or complex as youd like. The colors blend really well with minimal work. I seriously love it.



If you just wanted an old faithful palette to have for everyday use without a ton of fuss this is literally the perfect palette.

I wish I had had this when I was a new mom. It would have been a no-brainer. If you are still choking on the $42 price, remember this is high-end make-up. Youll notice the difference from your drugstore stuff when you try it out and you get 16 shadows. That breaks down to $2.62 a pan. Totally affordable. Also, if you wait patiently and sign up for Ulta mailers, you can purchase the palette with one of the coveted 20% coupons that come around every so often - just make sure it doesnt exclude prestige brands.

Along the same rule of thumb with clothes, there are key pieces in the cosmetic world that are worth the splurge, especially if you dont buy products all the time. I think a versatile eye-shadow palette, foundation that matches you in the summer and in the winter and concealer that does the same is worth the higher prices to get colors that show up (ie. are pigmented) and colors that match your skin. Its also worth it to buy brands that arent full of insane chemicals!  

There are a ton of high-end brands and it can be overwhelming. If you are a new mom and want to get yourself a little something to make you feel a little more sparkly on an average day or you are a husband and want to gift your honey with something she wouldnt purchase for herself, give this palette a go. I truly believe you wont regret it! 

When you visit friends and family in areas with chikungunya, dengue, or Zika, you may be at risk of getting those diseases. Visiting friends and family can pose different health needs than other kinds of travel because you might stay longer at your destination, be in places with less protection against mosquitoes (such as houses without screens or air conditioning), or be in a familiar place where you might not take as many precautions to say healthy. Protect yourself and your family by knowing the facts.

*Permethrin is not effective in Puerto Rico.

Chikungunya is a disease caused by a virus spread through mosquito bites. The most common symptoms of chikungunya are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash. Chikungunya disease rarely results in death, but the symptoms can be severe and disabling. Most people who get sick feel better within a week. In some people, the joint pain may last for months or years.

Dengue is a disease caused by a virus that is spread through mosquito bites. Symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, rash, and pain in the eyes, joints, and muscles. After you are bitten by an infected mosquito, symptoms can take up to 2 weeks to develop but usually end in a week. In severe cases, symptoms may include intense stomach pain, repeated vomiting, bleeding from the nose or gums, and death.

Zika is a disease caused by a virus that is primarily spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. Most people who get infected never have symptoms. In people who get sick, symptoms (fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes) are usually mild and resolve completely.

Zika can cause serious birth defects in babies born to women who were infected with Zika during pregnancy. Zika has also been linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare disorder that can cause muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. Most people fully recover from GBS, but some have permanent damage and, in some cases, people have died.

Zika can also spread when a man who has Zika has sex with female or male sex partners. A man can pass Zika to his partners even if he does not have symptoms at the time, or if his symptoms have gone away.  We do not know how long a man who has had Zika can pass it on to his partners from sex.

The mosquitoes that spread Zika usually do not live at elevations above 6,500 feet (2,000 meters). People who live in or visit areas above this elevation are at a very low risk of getting Zika from a mosquito unless they visit or travel through areas of lower elevation. Because there is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, people visiting areas with Zika should take steps to prevent infection.

Zika virus can pass from a pregnant woman to her fetus and can cause a serious birth defect of the brain called microcephaly in babies of women who had Zika virus while pregnant. Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that might not have developed properly. Other problems, such as eye defects, hearing loss, and impaired growth, have been detected among fetuses and infants infected with Zika virus before birth.

Pregnant women should not travel to any area with Zika. If you must travel to one of these areas, talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider first and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites and practice safe sex during your trip.

For more information about pregnancy and Zika, visit http://www.cdc.gov/zika/pregnancy/.

Condoms can reduce the chance of getting Zika from sex. To be effective, condoms must be used correctly from start to finish, every time during vaginal, and oral sex. A man can pass Zika to his partners even if he does not have symptoms at the time, or if his symptoms have gone away. Not having sex can eliminate the risk of getting Zika from sex.

For more information about Zika and sexual transmission, visit http://www.cdc.gov/zika/transmission/sexual-transmission.html.

Women and their partners should discuss pregnancy planning with a doctor or healthcare provider. Women who want to get pregnant should talk with their healthcare provider about their goals for having children. They should also talk with their healthcare provider about the potential risk of Zika virus infection during pregnancy as well as their male partner’s potential exposures to Zika virus. As part of counseling with healthcare providers, some women and their partners who have visited an area with Zika might decide to delay pregnancy. CDC has guidance to help doctors counsel women who have visited an area with Zika who want to get pregnant. The recommended times to wait before trying to get pregnant after visiting an area with Zika, based on whether either partner has had symptoms, are described below:

Women who are at risk of Zika and do not want to get pregnant should talk with their doctor or other healthcare provider about ways to prevent unintended pregnancy, including birth control methods. Women should consider safety, effectiveness, availability, and acceptability when choosing a birth control method. 

Women who become pregnant within 8 weeks after visiting an area with Zika should talk with their doctor: